International backpackers in Bondi are trapped in Australia because of the coronavirus


Parents of backpackers are paying for them to stay in Australia because going home to countries such as the United States is so dangerous amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Catherine, Allie and Maddie, three friends who live near New York City, arrived in Bondi, Sydney a week ago just as strict lockdown restrictions were issued by the federal government. 

‘We were originally going to stay in a backpackers but then with the coronavirus outbreak we decided to stay in an AirBnB,’ Catherine told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘Our parents were worried about us, they told us we shouldn’t go to the airport and get on a flight because it’s not better where we live.’ 

Allie (left), Catherine (centre), and Maddie (right) are from New York and said there parents were paying for them to stay in Australia because it’s safer in the coronavirus pandemic 

Backpackers socialise in groups of two on the roof of a Bondi backpackers amid lockdowns

Backpackers socialise in groups of two on the roof of a Bondi backpackers amid lockdowns 

Some of those visiting Bondi beach on Saturday were less focused on the social distancing guidelines

Some of those visiting Bondi beach on Saturday were less focused on the social distancing guidelines 

‘Slowly we’ve been hearing more and more people we know have been diagnosed with coronavirus. It’s really prevalent in our area because everyone where we live works in New York city and it’s very bad there.” 

‘We’ve got housing here till mid-May but we don’t know what the virus will be like then. We are just out of Uni so we’re lucky to have parents who will support us,’ Maddie said. 

The three were headed down to Bondi beach on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Catherine’s 23rd birthday.  

‘It’s her birthday today so that’s where we’re going, we know the beach is closed but we can just go hang out on the rocks,’ Maddie said.  

The group said they wanted to immerse themselves in the Australian culture but since they have been in Sydney they haven’t been able to socialise because everything is closed.     

‘We have working holiday visas and that only lasts for one year and we won’t be able to get another visa for ten years. So we are trying to make the most of it and hopefully everything will become normal soon.’ 

The effect of social distancing on the park looking out on Australia's famous Bondi beach

The effect of social distancing on the park looking out on Australia’s famous Bondi beach 

Guidelines from the health department recommend keeping at least 1.5 metres apart

Guidelines from the health department recommend keeping at least 1.5 metres apart 

British backpackers Dani and Jordan were also trying to make the most of the sunny Bondi weather on Saturday. 

‘Most of the backpackers here are stuck, all the transit between Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Dubai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, everything is closed,’ Jordan said. 

‘The flight price to the UK has gone up to 13 grand and they’re cancelling all the flights,’ Dani added. 

‘One of the airlines told us we need to have been checked [for coronavirus] within the last 72 hours but the results take 3 to 4 days at least to come back so that makes it impossible.’ 

Dani explained she is supposed to be in Queensland but couldn’t get through because the border was shut.  

‘I’ve booked $2,000 worth of stuff like a Whitsundays trip and I can’t get refunds because they say it’s valid for a year so you can come back – but there not extending our visas so we can’t.’ 

‘It sounds weird being stuck in Bondi but that’s how it is,’ Jordan said. 

Tourists were still out enjoying the sunshine on Saturday despite restrictions brought in the slow the spread of coronavirus

Tourists were still out enjoying the sunshine on Saturday despite restrictions brought in the slow the spread of coronavirus 

Two visitors are seen socialising on Saturday afternoon on the roof of a Bondi backpackers

Two visitors are seen socialising on Saturday afternoon on the roof of a Bondi backpackers 

A day earlier on Friday evening, Police were forced to shut down a gathering held at Bondi Beach Backpackers Club which had been advertised on the venue’s Facebook page. 

People commenting on the post were quick to condemn the gathering.  

‘Really??? Happy Hour??? A sausage sizzle for all guests?? Have you heard of social distancing? You are a disgrace,’ one person said. 

In a now-deleted post, the hostel had advertised its weekly sausage sizzle and happy hour beginning at 6pm

In a now-deleted post, the hostel had advertised its weekly sausage sizzle and happy hour beginning at 6pm 

Earlier this week, an Argentinian backpacker and her 10 friends were reported to have contracted coronavirus after attending a party with hundreds of people on Bondi Beach. 

The beach party was held before Scott Morrison banned non-essential services and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people. 

The 24-year-old woman went to Prince Wales Hospital on Monday where she was told that she had tested positive.  

Her diagnosis came after several more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in backpackers in the Bondi area.

‘There were two recent parties that some of the cases attended where the cases may have acquired their infections,’ a spokesman for NSW Health said.

Beaches in New South Wales and Victoria were flooded with sunseekers on Saturday despite COVID-19 warnings from health authorities. 

Startling pictures show groups of young people at St Kilda in Melbourne flouting social distancing guidelines to work on their tans, despite repeated calls for people to stay at home or maintain a 1.5m distance from one another. 

Several large signs were put up by officials warning people to stay away, with one even pleading ‘Stop COVID-19’ while another read ‘No Gatherings’. 

Groups of people are seen sunning themselves at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday, despite a nationwide clamp down on social gatherings to help combat the coronavirus outbreak

Groups of people are seen sunning themselves at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday, despite a nationwide clamp down on social gatherings to help combat the coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus cases in Australia soared to 3,640 on Saturday night

Coronavirus cases in Australia soared to 3,640 on Saturday night 

A sign put up at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) told residents that the beach was closed - but many ignored the warning

A sign put up at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) told residents that the beach was closed – but many ignored the warning

There were similar scenes at Brighton Beach, which was full of sunbathers despite being closed, and forced police officers to patrol the beach and turf off offenders. 

Along with Bondi beach in Sydney, St Kilda beach was closed altogether, with other Sydney and Melbourne beaches were closed to groups. 

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warned sunseekers they were putting people’s lives at risk by gathering in large numbers. 

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 3,640

New South Wales: 1,617

Victoria: 685

Queensland: 625

South Australia: 287

Western Australia: 278

Australian Capital Territory: 71

Tasmania: 62

Northern Territory: 15

TOTAL CASES:  3,640

DEAD: 14

On Saturday night the NSW government closed a number of beaches in addition to Bondi including Bronte, Tamarama, Maroubra, and Palm Beach. 

The number of coronavirus cases in Australia has soared to while New South Wales remains the worst-hit with cases. 

The majority of COVID-19 infections in the state have been reported to be emerging from Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where hundreds of people were seen flocking to the region’s popular beaches last week.  

The state and federal government have since issued multiple calls for Australians to ‘do the right thing’ and adhere to guidelines that could potentially save hundreds of lives.

On Saturday, officials closed Maroubra beach after defiant sunbathers had flocked to the sand following other beach closures in the city.

Beachgoers were told to leave the area at 11.30am. 

Police from Thursday have the power to hand out fines of $1,000 to individuals and $5,000 to businesses that breach public health orders or ministerial directions.   

The move comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced tougher restrictions to try and slow the spread of the disease in the Australian community.

People in the firing line include returned travellers who contravene the requirement to self-quarantine for 14 days and those diagnosed with COVID-19 who similarly don’t follow the rules.

Fines will also apply for breaches of the prohibition on outdoor gatherings of 500 people and indoor gatherings of 100 people.

A group of young women are spoken to by a police officer on Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) after dozens flocked to the closed beach to enjoy the sunshine despite the coronavirus pandemic

A group of young women are spoken to by a police officer on Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) after dozens flocked to the closed beach to enjoy the sunshine despite the coronavirus pandemic

This group of young people didn't appear to be 1.5 metres apart, and were sat directly in front of a sign telling residents 'No Gatherings' during the COVID-19 pandemic

This group of young people didn’t appear to be 1.5 metres apart, and were sat directly in front of a sign telling residents ‘No Gatherings’ during the COVID-19 pandemic